Media Advisory - Former Ontario Rangers to host spring cleanup at Confederation Park April 26

OTTAWA, April 25, 2014 /CNW/ - In a bid to draw attention to their efforts to restore the Ontario Rangers program, former members will participate in a spring cleanup at Confederation Park in Ottawa on April 26.

Organized by the group Friends of the Ontario Rangers Program, the cleanup represents another step in the campaign to restore the former 68-year environmental and land stewardship program that was abruptly cancelled by the McGuinty government in 2012. The ranger program (formerly known as the Ontario Junior Rangers Program) was replaced by a day-only program without many of the benefits of the previous one.

The Friends campaign has been lobbying the Wynne government and local municipalities for more than a year to restore the $1.6 million program which promoted environmental stewardship, maintenance of provincial parks, life skills and team-building.

More than 70,000, 17-year olds participated in the program over its seven decades, including well-known public figures like former federal cabinet minister David Crombie and Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow.

DETAILS

Park cleanup Saturday part of campaign to restore Ontario Rangers Program
Date:	Saturday April 26, 2014 (rain date April 27)
Time:	10 a.m. to noon
Location:	Confederation Park, 161 Elgin St., Ottawa

SOURCE: Friends of the Ontario Rangers Program (FORP)

James Pickett  /  Cell: 613-834-6689 / [email protected]